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Butler basketball roster breakdown: First impression on how Thad Matta’s new pieces fit

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6 months ago

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Butler basketball roster breakdown: First impression on how Thad Matta’s new pieces fit

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With just 11 scholarship players heading into the 2024-25 season, Butler coach Thad Matta made it clear finding the right fit matters more than just filling out the roster.

In the transfer portal, the Bulldogs targeted players with experience getting sixth-year forward Patrick McCaffery, junior guard Kolby King and sophomore guard/forward Jamie Kaiser Jr. How will the three incoming transfers and freshman Evan Haywood mix with Butler’s two returning starters (Jahmyl Telfort and Pierre Brooks II) and seven total returning scholarship players?

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Here’s an early look at a potential starting lineup and rotation for the Bulldogs

PG: Kolby King/Landon Moore

SG: Jamie Kaiser Jr./Finley Bizjack/Landon Moore/Evan Haywood

F: Pierre Brooks II/Augusto Cassia/Jamie Kaiser Jr.

F: Jahmyl Telfort/Patrick McCaffery/Augusto Cassia/Boden Kapke

C/PF: Patrick McCaffery or Andre Screen or Boden Kapke/Augusto Cassia

‘Let’s roll with them.’ Why Butler’s rebuilt roster may stay at 11 scholarship players.

Guards

I think the backcourt rotation is pretty straightforward for Butler heading into the new season. Tulane transfer Kolby King isn’t a traditional point guard, but he’s an explosive athlete with strong ball-handling skills and the ability to make shots from the perimeter.

He’s a career 36% shooter from 3, a marked improvement over Posh Alexander’s 27.6% career 3-point shooting mark. King can shoot off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot situations. He brings good size to the point guard position at 6-2, 190 pounds and his athleticism allows him to finish at the rim through contact, another area the Bulldogs were lacking from their guards last season.

“Kolby has been really good,” Matta said. “He’s a point guard. He’s very, very explosive. Very, very quick. He’s shot the ball well, and his assist-to-turnover ratio right now is unbelievable. So, we want him to be a playmaker. We want him to be a little bit of a risk-taker but we’re really trying to push the tempo.”

Kaiser will fit well at shooting guard. At 6-6, the Maryland transfer brings great size to the 2-guard position. His size should allow him to guard multiple positions, a problem Butler had last season playing two smaller guards in Alexander and DJ Davis together. Defensive versatility aside, the Dawgs were willing to play smaller guards together because Davis brought elite-level shooting. Kaiser comes with the reputation as a lights out shooter. As a freshman at Maryland, he shot just 26.5% from 3, but during summer workouts, Kaiser has been as advertised from behind the arc.

“Jamie gives us more length at the wing position,” Matta said. “We’ve got bigger guards than we had last year, and he has shot the ball well. I think with him, it’s a big confidence thing. I think it was a little bit taken aback when I told him, ‘I need you to shoot the basketball.’

“He’s been an unbelievable worker. He’s in the gym all the time and he wants to be a player. I think with what we’re trying to do, he’s moving a lot more. Very high IQ basketball player.”

I expect Landon Moore to fill in as the backup point. Moore can play point with Finley Bizjack in the backcourt with him. Moore can play off the ball with King at the point as well.

Forwards

Expect Pierre Brooks II and Jahmyl Telfort to log a lot of minutes together at the forward positions. I’m using forward as a general position label. Telfort plays a type of power point-forward. Brooks has the size of a forward with the skills of a guard. Augusto Cassia and Patrick McCaffery have the versatility to play either forward position. Boden Kapke can play power forward next to center Andre Screen.

The Bulldogs could also go with a three-forward lineup, forgoing a traditional center. In that case, Cassia has the versatility to guard positions 1-5. McCaffery can also be a versatile defender, and his ability to make well-timed cuts and finish at the rim would work well with Telfort’s playmaking ability.

Centers

My first guess is Butler is going to use a three-forward lineup. If Butler uses a traditional center, fifth-year Andre Screen or sophomore Boden Kapke are deserving candidates to man the position. Screen is an old-school center. The Bucknell transfer is a 7-footer with shot-blocking ability and soft touch around the rim. Screen shot 59.3% from the field. He added 4.5 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game.

Kapke is a modern big. The Minnesota native is 6-11, and during summer workouts he looks leaner while still maintaining his strength and athleticism. Kapke shot an impressive 41.2% from 3 (7-for-17) and 72.7% from the free-throw line. He has great feel in pick-and-pop situations, and now he’s a threat to finish lobs in pick-and-rolls. By the end of the season, Kapke could very well be Butler’s starting center.

Kapke at center would be one way to get Butler’s best shooters on the court. Screen brings more defensive ability but averaged just 12.8 minutes per game. He played 20-plus minutes just three times all season. Screen may be best suited for short spurts of action, keeping him fresh for crunch time. Regardless of who starts, I’d expect Screen and Kapke to get plenty of time in the middle with Cassia and McCaffery filling in when needed. 

Follow IndyStar Butler Insider Akeem Glaspie on X at @THEAkeemGlaspie.

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